several prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several prior" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to multiple previous instances or occurrences of something. Example: "The report was based on several prior studies that highlighted the importance of early intervention."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because of several prior convictions, Mr. Blunt was also facing a possible long prison sentence.

The New York Times

Several prior layoffs occurred the day after the company Christmas party.

The New York Times

He had several prior arrests, the police said, but they did not specify their nature.

The New York Times

In non-FBI speak, they know they missed a trick (or several) prior to 9/11 by not being outward-looking enough.

The Guardian

He had also worked several prior cases with Jeff Novitzky, and says that he introduced Novitzky to the art of dumpster diving.

The New Yorker

The two had been competing head-to-head for several prior years.

TechCrunch

Style Feeder was created by Philip Jacob, a coder with experience at several prior startups.

TechCrunch

Several prior studies have dealt with FRP application on normal weight concrete.

Composites Part B: Engineering

Within an hcp macrozone, several prior β grain orientations were present at high temperature.

Acta Materialia

Several prior studies established that the longest time until recurrence of ESFT was 19 years [9].

Surgical Case Reports

There have been several prior works on dynamic spectrum access and sensing.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several prior", ensure the context clearly establishes what the "prior" instances refer to. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "several prior" when "prior" alone suffices. For example, instead of "We reviewed several prior studies previously conducted", simply state "We reviewed several prior studies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several prior" functions as a modifier, specifically as a pre-modifier, that describes or characterizes the nouns it precedes. It indicates that there are multiple instances that have occurred previously. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several prior" is a versatile and frequently used modifier that indicates multiple previous instances. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and common usage make it a reliable choice for various contexts. The phrase is used in both scientific and news-related content, indicating a level of neutrality in register, where it serves the primary purpose of providing context about past events. While generally correct, overuse should be avoided, particularly when the word "several" is redundant. Remembering to use specificity when employing "several prior" will improve clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several preceding

Simply replaces "prior" with "preceding", maintaining nearly the same meaning but offering a slight variation in wording.

multiple previous

Swaps "several" with "multiple" and "prior" with "previous", keeping the meaning nearly identical while using slightly different vocabulary.

numerous preceding

Replaces "several" with "numerous" and "prior" with "preceding", emphasizing a large quantity of things coming before.

various previous

Substitutes "several" with "various" and "prior" with "previous", implying a range of different things from the past.

various earlier

Substitutes "several" with "various" and "prior" with "earlier", suggesting a diversity of things in the past.

a number of former

Replaces "several" with "a number of" and "prior" with "former", indicating a quantity of things that existed before.

numerous past

Replaces "several" with "numerous" and "prior" with "past", stressing the quantity of things that have occurred in the past.

many earlier

Substitutes "several" with "many" and "prior" with "earlier", indicating a high quantity of things from an earlier time.

some previous

Replaces "several" with "some" and "prior" with "previous", implying an unspecified amount of things from the past.

a few former

Replaces "several" with "a few" and "prior" with "former", suggesting a smaller amount of things that used to be.

FAQs

How do I use "several prior" in a sentence?

Use "several prior" to indicate that there were multiple earlier occurrences of something. For example, "Several prior attempts had failed before the successful launch."

What are some alternatives to using "several prior"?

You can use alternatives like "multiple previous", "numerous preceding", or "various earlier" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "several prior" or "many prior"?

Both "several prior" and "many prior" are grammatically correct. "Several" suggests a smaller, less defined number than "many". The choice depends on the specific quantity you want to convey.

What is the difference between "several prior" and "previous"?

"Previous" refers to something that came before, whereas "several prior" specifies that there were multiple instances that came before. Using "several prior" emphasizes the number of occurrences.